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A Somebody From Nobody

It was fourth period sociology. Usually, most people could not stay awake in this class, let alone actually involve themselves in the lesson. Today was different. Not even one head was resting on the desk. I walked in late because of an appointment with my guidance counselor and thought I had just had the shock of my day because everyone was paying attention. Apparently, I had no idea what I was in for.
The room was silent and everyone was looking at a girl in the front of the room. The girl was not one of the popular girls in school and was not even one of the unpopular girls. She was one of those people who fall through the cracks in high school. Most people did not know what she looked like, and no one cared. She was not anyone’s best friend. No one called her on weekends to hang out. She was a nobody to everybody. No one ever paid attention to this girl. But something had happened and today, everyone in sociology knew who she was and she became a somebody.
My mom…when she died…she told me that I was strong. Probably a lot stronger than you can imagine. I never got along with my mom until she got diagnosed. That’s the reason I wanted to talk to you all. Not because I want you to know who I am or to be my friend. I don’t want pity but I do want you to know that you should cherish the days you have with your family,” she said through tears.
We all sat, unmoving, with blank looks on each of our faces. No one wanted to talk because no one knew what to say. This girl, who had suffered more than all of us probably had combined, had no one to turn to. She had no friends to cry on and no support from anyone. We were all nobodies to her…
This happened last year. The girl has since moved to another school to start fresh. We may never have been friends, but she cried to me and she changed my attitude more in five minutes than anyone else ever had. She was definitely somebody. And I was lucky to meet a somebody like her.

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